Is God Lying?

Posted on February 15, 2021 by drgause@agause.com

Eighty percent (80%) of airplane accidents are due to human error. Pilots cause many crashes by ignoring warning alarms, even switching them off. Studies show pilots have become disoriented in fog or clouds and stopped trusting their instruments. They think their compass has malfunctioned pointing them in the wrong direction, or their Turn Coordinator indicated the plane was tilted but the pilot felt like it was level. Multiple crashes happen because they refuse to accept the low altitude the altimeter is showing. They follow their impulses only to crash into the ground or the side of a mountain. Pilots can reach the point they convince themselves all their equipment is providing false readings. In other words, they are saying the instruments are lying. So instead, they rely on their confused impulses, which lead to a crash.

Think of the countless lives that would have been spared through the years if those pilots had just believed what the instruments were telling them. Recently, while watching a documentary on aviation disasters, I thought about how similar scenarios happen in the spiritual realm when people doubt what God has said. How much better would the world be if people believed the instructions God has given? Someone defined faith as merely ‘taking God at His Word’. Doubters don’t normally put it in these terms, but when someone refuses to believe God’s word—why? Does that suggest they think God is lying?

That is the method Satan used with Adam and Eve. The Serpent asked the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’” (Gen 3:1 NET)? “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (vs 4, 5). Satan was creating doubt in God’s instructions. Behind his smooth words, he was telling them that God had lied to them. The devil still employs this tactic today. Scripture repeatedly warns people to beware of deception. The word means that something, a person, false teaching, or emotion is causing believers to doubt God and be led away from His truth. Jesus gave strong warnings about the increase of deception in the last days. Jesus warns His disciples, “False Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24).

The truth we must rest in, “It is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18).So the strength for us in a confusing world starts with believing our instruments—the instrument of the Word and the instrument of the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself what are some teachings of the Bible that you have doubts about or simply don’t believe? And then consider if there are reasons you don’t believe? Keep in mind that believing is more than a passive feeling that something is true. Genuine belief drives us into action. Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to help you believe what you don’t understand.

People have attempted to count the number of promises God made to man in the Bible. Some concluded as high as 30,000. In 1956, a schoolteacher, Everett R. Storms, conducted a detailed and careful count. It took him a year and a half to read the Bible twenty-seven times marking the promises, and he counted 7,487 promises God made to man. Every promise is true and will continue to be true throughout eternity. In the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began (Tit 1:2). Why would God make untrue promises or tell a lie?

One common example of believing what God has said, instead of the lies others tell us, concerns self-esteem. It surprised me to learn that 85% of people suffer from low self-esteem. If you are among them, on who or what are you basing your self-image—other people’s opinion, your outside appearance, your possessions, your intelligence, etc. Maybe your parents constantly put you down. The first step to freedom is to base your self-image on who you are in Christ. You are not an accident of nature. God created you unique, one of a kind, with a purpose. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Eph 2:10). Tell yourself these truths: In Him, I have been made complete (Col 2:10); I am forgiven of the penalty of my sins (2 Cor 5:19); I am a child of God (John 1:12); I am set free by the truth (John 8:31-33); I am inseparable from the love of God (Rom 8:35). I read over a hundred more scriptures like these.

During times of trouble, do you believe, God will supply all your needs (Phil 4:19); do you believe you can cast all your care because He cares for you (1Pe 5:7); do you believe the words of Jesus, do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself (Matt 6:34)? If you don’t believe it, why? Why would God make these promises if they aren’t true? Is He lying to us?

Sustaining Word for the Week: “It is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18). God’s truth about Satan . . . there is no truth in him . . . because he is a liar and the father of lies (Jn 8:44 HOL).

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To Judge or Not to Judge

Posted on February 1, 2021 by drgause@agause.com

Imagine you find a Bible someone has lost. As you thumb through it searching for the owner’s identification, one page catches your attention in Matthew. In chapter seven, the first three words of verse one have been circled. The next five and a half verses have been scratched out with a black magic marker. The only readable words are, Do not judge. This illustrates how some people, especially non-Christians, try to interpret scripture—pick a verse they like and scratch out what they don’t like. When we study scripture, three cardinal rules must always apply. First is context; second is context, and you guessed it, third is context. What is written before a verse, and what is said afterward? Do not judge isn’t even the entire verse. It is merely the first phase of six verses concerning judging. Multiple teachers and writers agree this is probably the most misinterpreted and misapplied verse in the New Testament.

Jesus does not say ‘never judge’. Following through the context we learn Christ is teaching the proper way to use judgment in contrast to the Jewish religious leaders who condemned people by hypocritical judgment. The corrupt society has twisted three words of this verse into a mandatory rule that believers are never to disapprove or correct immoral actions. However, God has given us the responsibility of calling attention to false doctrine. Ezekiel gave Israel a strong warning, But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes . . . his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand (Eze 33:6). The watchmen judged if those approaching were friends or enemies. Today we serve as the watchmen and must warn others of the approaching danger.

It might surprise people to learn the Holy Spirit gives individuals a ‘gift of judgment’. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. For one person is given through the Spirit . . . the gift of discernment [judgment] of spirits (1 Corin 12:7, 10 NET). The word discernment, used over 700 times in Bible, means to judge, discern, distinguish, decide (mentally or judicially), to conclude, or determine. It is the same root word in Matthew 7:1. Judging is the distinguishing good from evil and right from wrong. My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world (1 Jn 4:1 MSG).

Fellow expatriates came and warned us before our first trip to South Africa not to travel down one particular road, even though it was 20 miles shorter. This route had become notorious for criminals who would steal everything a traveler had. Those who rejected or ignored this warning lost their vehicle and all their possessions. We were so thankful for the information from those who judged this highway unsafe and were willing to tell us. As new missionaries, we were unaware of the danger. We also began warning other newcomers. We learned later that even the police wouldn’t go down this road. Compare this to Christians not warning those who don’t believe or have never heard the Gospel because this would be considered ‘judging’. We would have lost our possessions; non-believers can lose their eternal souls.

Christ has given us the responsibility of sharing the Gospel and warning people of the dangers. Beware of the false prophets (Mat 7:15). Jesus warned that in the last days, For false Christs and false prophets will arise (Mat 24:24). This calls for judgment to determine if someone is a false prophet or a false teacher. If you stopped reading after Do not judge (v1), you missed Jesus showing we have to judge. Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces (v6). This verse implies judgment is required to determine who are dogs and who are hogs.

Before we can make a judgment on another believer who has a speck in his eye, we must judge ourselves. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye (v6). Jesus wasn’t eliminating judging, He was showing the correct process. Judgment never condemns an individual—believer, or non-believer and is not a public reprimand. The judgment of a brother who is sinning is done in private. If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother ( Mat 18:15). The Lord condemns the spirit of censoriousness, judging harshly, self-righteously, without mercy, and love (Hendriksen). The purpose of loving and merciful judgment is restoration, correction, or warning).

Sustaining Word for the Week: In this time of trouble, we need watchmen who will not shrink back in fear but will judge, discern and determine all that is false doctrine. They aren’t condemnors or executioners of justice—that’s God’s duty—they are restorers calling people to God.

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The Decade of the Offended

Posted on January 25, 2021 by drgause@agause.com

If a publishing firm asked you to write a history of the past decade, what title would you give it? It should sum up the last ten years into one word or a short phrase. The word that immediately comes to my mind is ‘offended’. I would title it, “The Decade of the Offended”. It seems today we live in a ‘culture of offended people’. My introductory line would read, “I’m offended!” “What are you offended about?” “Everything offends me. Doesn’t it offend you?” “No.” “Then I’m offended that you aren’t offended.”

Media outlets thrive on reporting (or creating) offenses made by an individual that offends someone else. People tend to join together who share the same offense. They feel, since they aren’t alone, this justifies their offense and bitterness. I first wrote about ‘offend’ six years ago after reading that the greeting ‘Hello’ offended a man in Tennessee because it contains the word ‘hell’ and he wanted it removed. I assume we would greet one another ‘O’. But this would just offend somebody else. ‘O’ has several less than flattering meanings in slang language.

The Bible refers to the subject of offense seventy-three times. Jesus gave specific teaching about being offended and offending others. The term in the New Testament is skandalizo from which we get the English words scandal and scandalize. Various Bibles translate it offend, stumble, fall away, or apostatize. It originally specified a wooden stick used for the trigger release holding the bait of an animal trap. By the first century, it referred to any obstacle, literal or figuratively, that caused a person to stumble, lose their footing, and fall.

The Gospel and Biblical truth will always offend certain people. Yet, we must not water down the essentials of the Word, i.e. that which leads to salvation, because it offends someone. On the other hand, Paul tells mature believers free in Christ not to eat meat, to drink wine, or fail to observe certain religious days that offend weaker and less mature believers and cause them to stumble. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died (Rom 14:2, 15). Several churches where I’ve preached served wine instead of grape juice for communion. Discussing this in class, an older student who was a recovered alcoholic said the one sip of wine would cause him to go straight to the liquor store. The communion wine was a stumbling block to this weaker brother; so use nonalcoholic grape juice. 

Jesus taught the seriousness of offending. In His teaching about lust, “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Mat 5:29). He warned, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Mat 18:6). The two concerns for Christians are not to compromise the essentials of the Gospel and second to use wisdom about beliefs that aren’t crucial for salvation.

Other lessons come from the biblical teaching on offense, but particularly relevant in our current times is how do believers respond to offenses directed toward them? First, it is a choice to take offense. We can refuse to embrace someone’s intended offense. Believers don’t have to experience hurt feelings, displeasure, distress, or anger over someone’s actions or words. When we take hold of someone’s attempt to offend us, we are allowing them to control our emotions. This is why the Holy Spirit gives us and grows the fruit of the Spirit—self-control. Second, physiologists say that a lack of self-esteem is a major cause. People who feel inferior are more often offended believing, the offender is trying to show his/her superiority and point out their inferiority.

Believers must constantly ground themselves in God’s Word and the strength of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual maturity comes through practicing who God made us. Mature Christians aren’t easily offended because they know and believe what God says and rely on the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit. They live out who God created them to be and ignore what others try to intimidate them to be. Solomon said, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience. It is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11). Overlook means to pass through or over, to go beyond, to be crossed over, or to go away.

We must never forget offense came from a word meaning the trip for a bait trap. Satan is out to trap us in anger, hurt feelings, fear, etc. Embracing an offense quickly leads to sin. Even stopping to consider what offended people are saying can trip the switch and you find yourself trapped.

Sustaining Word for the Week: Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing makes them stumble (Ps 119:165 Hol).

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Bad Week

Posted on January 18, 2021 by drgause@agause.com

“Did you have a good week?” “No”, was my curt response to my son. Out of concern, he began inquiring if it was because of all that’s taking place in the world or something else. “All the above and everything else I attempted.” I started sliding into my pit Saturday morning when I searched for my Sustaining Word. For the fourth week in a row, my computer had erased my SW, which was ready for the final edit. Yes, before you ask, I had saved it and don’t have an inkling of what’s happening. In the previous weeks, I had rewritten it, but this time I didn’t have the energy. Then my cell phone died and our phone signal booster stopped working. I could tell you more, but I don’t want to bore you. By Monday, I was looking for a Sustaining Word that would help me. Why am I sharing this? Not to get pity but to show we all can become overwhelmed.

What can anyone say after the last couple of weeks? I finally told my wife what was going on inside of me. I admit her simple faith runs circles around mine. She just responded, “God’s in control and knows what He’s doing.” Sorry, but my analytical and theological thoughts were more like, “Did God take a leave of absence? Why doesn’t He stop all that’s going on in and around our lives?”

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of the prophet Habakkuk. We know little about him, but most believe he lived in the period just before the fall of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The prophet asked God why He was allowing all that was happening to the nation. He’s not alone in asking God ‘why’, King David, and even Jesus asked why. But Habakkuk’s inquiries were for more than just information. They were laced with a bit of anger and attitude toward God, even questioning His character and ability.

How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? 3 Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. 4 This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. (Hab 1:2-4 HOL) Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God? My Holy One, You will not die. Lord, You appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, You destined them to punish us. 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself? (vv12,13).

Habakkuk was blunt and expressed his deep emotions. We might have expected that a fire would have come down and consumed the prophet. The lesson, we never intimidate God by our questions or our anger toward Him. God responded to the complaint. But He tells Habakkuk that he won’t understand His answer. He will use Babylonians to judge Judah’s sin. God says just watch because it wasn’t yet the appointed time. “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if you were told (1:5). God also promised, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea (2:14). Although God will use the Babylonians, a time will come when the Lord will judge them. He pronounces five Woes on them (2:9-20).

In Habakkuk’s third prayer, he declared his trust in God had been restored (3:1-19). God reminds us, But the righteous will live by his faith (2:4). Three times Paul quotes this verse. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith” (Rom 1:17) Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “the righteous one will live by faith.” (Gal 3:11). But My righteous one will live by faith (Heb 10:38). What is faith? Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb 11:1 NIV). Stop being afraid of what you see. God reminded Habakkuk of the limitations of man’s perspective. The lesson for us is we can rise above our circumstances and even rejoice in them by focusing on God.

Habakkuk went from doubtful whining to worship accepting by faith that no matter how bad things become, the Lord God was still in control. P.S. God brought me out of my pit and gave me His peace that passes my understanding (Phil 2:7).

Sustaining Word for the Week: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength (3:17-19 NIV).

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